Civil War Weekend

This weekend is filled with Civil War events. There will be several Civil War events happening this weekend in the Northern Maryland and Eastern West Virginia area. If you have nothing plan this weekend check one of the following events out….

Gilmor’s Raid: Kingsville, MD
Jerusalem Mill Village announces its 5th Annual Civil War Weekend Encampment; commemorating CSA Major Harry W. Gilmor’s 1864 raid across Baltimore and Harford Counties and on the General Store (now popularly known as McCourtney’s), located here in the village. The raid was part of an overall campaign conducted by Major Gilmor against the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Major Gilmor and 135 of his men, parts of the 1st and 2nd Maryland Cavalry, passed through Jerusalem Mill on their way to burn the railroad bridge at Magnolia Station, stopping long enough to “requisition” supplies and “liberate” horses from the store and the surrounding area. 

Civil War Encampment: Frederick, MD
In July of 1863 Rose Hill Manor was a first-hand witness to the effects of the Civil War. Join reenactors and living historians from across the region to view what military life was like on the grounds of Rose Hill during that time. 

Capture of Gladeville: Wise, VA
Come be with us when once again the Town of Wise becomes the Town of Gladeville. Our first Reenactment was unique in that it was held on the exact anniversary dates of the original Capture of Gladeville.

Battle of Huck’s Defeat: McConnells, SC
See how soldiers and civilians in the Carolina Piedmont survived in Revolutionary War in the Carolina backcounty. Two significant battles will be reenacted including Huck’s Defeat, which will take place near the actual site of the engagement. Historic music performances, firearms demonstrations, talks by noted experts, and camp life will be shown throughout the day. Younger visitors can explore the Children’s Encampment area and experience historic toys and games, take part in military drills and explore a Revolutionary War camp. Battle reenactment will take place at 11:30 AM and 2:00 PM.

Battle of Corydon: Corydon, IN
he Battle of Corydon Memorial Park Advisory Board, the Harrison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, and our entire community invite you to participate in this year’s reenactment of the Battle of Corydon. We promise to build upon the success of past reenactments We want this to be an ongoing educational and commemorative event that highlights this important part of our history, reminding residents of our heritage and drawing visitors with whom we can share our stories. The 2009 Reenactment will be held July 11 & 12, 2009 in Corydon , Indiana , just a short drive west of Louisville , KY , off Interstate 64. 

Battle of Rich Mountain: Beverly, WV
Commemorating the 148th Anniversary of the famous Battle of July, 1861, this reenactment will be held at the Rich Mountain Battlefield Civil War Site, just minutes west of Beverly and South of Elkins, West Virginia. 

For additional information and to check out other events going on this weekend please visit http://www.wereenact.net/events.html

July 4th Weekend

Sometimes the usual family picnic and night of fireworks isn’t enough to celebrate the day of our nation’s birth.  Here are just a few events happening this weekend that make this 4th a weekend to remember.

Williamsburg, VA:  One of my most favorite memories was the time my family and I spent the 4th in Williamsburg Virginia.  A chance to relax and enjoy the carefree world of this small historic town. In fact last year was also the year that the Fife & Drum band was celebrating their big Anniversary and were fortunate enough to enjoy the music before spending a night watching fireworks on the grounds.  And we didn’t even half to spend a dime, it was totally free to the public.  If this doesn’t excite you to leave the comforts of home, nothing else will.  To check out the schedule of all the activities happening this weekend please click here.

Yorktown, VA: While you spend the weekend in Williamsburg why not tour around other sites such as historic Jametown or the Yorktown Victory Center.  This weekend at the Victory Center they are having military and civilian reenactors role playing people from colony times.  There will be military tactical drills, exercises and role-playing demonstrations that salute America.  While you tour the little colony you will learn about the sacrifices of our nation’s founders, including those who signed the Declaration of Independence.  So make this weekend one of education and fun.  To learn more about this event please click here…

Youngstown, New York: Lets go back during a time of Indian raids and early colonization of the Americas.  Not at all a place anyone would expect to want to settle down.  Its a history that has shaped America and what it has become today.  Explore “Old Fort Niagara’s” largest French & Indian War Encampment ever, to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the 1759 Siege of Niagara.  There will be plenty to do and see along with taking time to reeducate yourself about the French & Indian War. Click here if you’re interested in this event.

Perrysburg, Ohio: Let forward a few years later to the year of 1813. Why not celebrate with cannon firings, toasts, music, and a day of leisure at Fort Meigs.  If you want to celebrate differently than any coworks heres a way to educate your kids and still have lots of fun.  Here at Fort Meigs reenactors will be portraying 1812 soldiers and civilians through cannon firings, weapon demos, encampments, demonstrations, and hands-on activities for children. The highlight of the day is the eighteen-gun National Salute accompanied by toasts and fife and drum music starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 4.  To explore Fort Meigs and learn more about this weekends activities please click here…

Gettysburg, PA: Not really into the whole 18th Century, why not try the 19th Century during the time when America almost become the Divided States of America.  Visit one of the bloodest battles faught during the American Civil War.  Gettysburg holds one of the biggest reenactments of the season. Each year thousands of reenactors go to Gettysburg just to portray soldiers and civilians who witness the battle and remember them by spending a weekend living like them.  So if your into history but are more of a civil war buff than come on up or down to Gettysburg.  For more info on tickets and activities please click here…

Well hope that gives you some ideas of what you could possibly do this 4th of July or possibly in the future.  All the events above do happen each year so if you happen to miss it this year, there is always next year.  For more information on upcoming events and reenacting please continue to visit www.wereenact.net.

Summer Reading

I’m sure there are several books already listed on your summer reading list, but here are a few more good books to add onto it.  Many of the books are good resources to find information on 18th to the 20th Century life.  As well as historian’s perspective on the wars, people and conditions  that impacted them.

Biographies:
A Black Woman’s Civil War Memoirs	by: Susie King Taylor
A Journal of the Plague Year	by: Daniel Defoe
Anne Frank	by: Otto H. Frank
Army Life in a Black Regiment	by: Thomas Wentworth Higginson
Army Life in Virginia	by: G.G. Benedict and Edited by: Eric Ward
A Soldier’s Journal	by: David Rothbart
Inside the Army of the Potomac	by: J. Gregory Acken
Letters from an American Farmer	by: J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur
Letters Home	by: Sally Hitchcock Pullman
Mary Chesnut’s Civil War	by: C. Vann Woodward
Memoirs of a Geisha	by: Arthur Golden
Memoir of A Revolutionary Soldier	by: Joseph Plumb Martin
Sarah Morgan	by: Charles East
The American Revolutionaries	by: Milton Meltzer
The Battle for Pusan A Memoir	by: Addison Terry
The Complete Civil War Journal	by: Thomas Wentworth Higginson
The Private Mary Chesnut	by: C.Vann Woodward
This Glorious Struggle	by: Edward G. Lengel
Well Satisfied with My Position	by Michael A. Flannery

 

Novels:
1776	by: David McCullough
A Break with Charity	by: Ann Rinaldi
Bold Journey	by: Charles Bohner
Brave Companions	by: David McCullough
Georgianna	by: Amanda Foreman
Hornblower: Beat to Quarters	by: C.S. Forester
Innocent Traitor	by: Alison Weir
John Adams	by: David McCullough
Lady Jane Grey	by: Eric Ives
Love and Louis XIV	by: Antonia Fraser
Marie Antoinette	by: Antonia Fraser
Mary Boleyn	by: Josephine Wilkinson
Mayflower	by: Nathaniel Philbrick
Nine Days A Queen	by: Ann Rinaldi
The Boleyn Inheritance	by: Philippa Gregory
The Heretic’s Daughter	by: Kathleen Kent
The Name of the Rose	by: Umberto Eco
The Other Boleyn Girl	by: Philippa Gregory
The Other Queen	by: Philippa Gregory
The Princes In the Tower	by: Alison Weir
The Tudor Queens of England	by: David Loades
The Wars of the Roses	by: Alison Weir
White Doves at Morning	by: James Lee Burke
Year of Wonders	by: Geraldine Brooks

Historic Jamestown

Last weekend was Memorial Day so I packed the car with all my camping gear and drove down to Historic Jamestown.  The last time I went to Jamestown was in the winter of 2005.  That is before they opened the new Visitor Center and Museum the following spring.  During the last visit I spent sometime touring around the glassblowing building and what is left of the town formally known as New Towne.  Since it was in the middle of winter there weren’t to many visitors and much of the  property was gated up due to the construction work.   

Forward 3 yrs and 5 months later and they have a new Visitor Center & exhibit and a new Archaearium Museum.  The Visitor Center has a small museum that basically talks about the history of Jamestown and has a really nice video for visitors to watch.  It also displays some of the artifacts that were found in Jamestown and it also has a nice path that takes you right to the fort.  There wasn’t a path that directed you to the fort last time and you had to travel quite a distance to get to it.  As I was saying for the past 10+ years a lot has been research and found at Historic Jamestown.  Throughout the 20th Century it was thought that the fort itself had washed away into the waters of the James River never to be found.  Today the fort has been found along with thousands of artifacts.  With the founding of the fort ’s location  archaeologist have been able to find and mark the remains of the first settlers of Jamestown.  

There are many other surprises to be found at Historic Jamestown but rather than tell you myself drive down or up to Jamestown yourself and find what has been hidden for many years and recently been uncovered.  *Strongly recommend that you take the Ranger Walking tour while you are there, you will learn more about the history and what it took to uncover it.  

To learn more about Historic Jamestown and to find more information; please click one of the following links… 
Historic Jamestown
Visit Historic Jamestown
More Information On Jamestown
Video on “Finding Jamestown”

Book Club

Sign Up Now!  We’ve decided to add a little more interactivity to the site by creating a book club.  We hope to start it sometime in June.  We are slowly creating a name and getting a lot of helpful input from some of our facebook friends.  They are also helping us decide which books should be part of the list.  If you think it is going to be all boring historic biographies you’re totally wrong.  We are actually going to be doing a lot of old and new literature along with the biographic stuff.  In order to really portray someone from another time you sometimes have to put yourself in their shoes.  A good way of doing this is by reading period literature and  biographies (memoirs, diaries/journal and autobiographies).  

Our goal is to have at least two books that are some how relate in one way or another for everyone to read (note you don’t have to read all the one’s being discussed).  For example if we are reading the diary of Anne Frank which is a biography we have one of the options of reading either a book based on WWII or some novel that was written during the time.  With modern books on the list we will make double sure a period novel or biography  is discussed with it. We hope to have a list of books soon and don’t be surprised to see your favorite modern books listed.

Book club Page on Facebook
Has been CANCELLED as of July 3, 2009 

If you don’t have a facebook account don’t worry we will be building a new page on here soon.  Once we’ve decided to decide which two books to discuss for 6 to 12 weeks. 

Summer Events

 

It’s summer already!  For those who use this site majority for information and news about the world of reenacting here are a few reenactments going on for the months of June, July and August.  For any additional information on the following events please continue to visit our site.  We are working hard to improve our site and gather information for those who are interested in learning more about the hobby before getting into the hobby.

 

 

WWII Weekend: Cape	June 5-7, 2009
Battle of Stoney Creek	June 6-7, 2009
Lehigh Valley Civil War Days	June 12 -14, 2009
Battle of Brices Crossroads	June 12 – 14, 2009
Revolutionary War Weekend	June 13-14,2009
1812 Battle of Hampton VA	June 13, 2009
Fort Union Rendezvous	June 18 – 21, 2009
The Grand Victorian Ball of 1864	June 19 – 23, 2009
Niagara Besieged	June 20, 2009
March out of the Continental Army	June 20, 2009
Muster on the Maumee	June 20-21, 2009
Custer’s Last Stand	June 26-28, 2009
March to Destiny	June 26-28, 2009
Battle of Monmouth	June 27, 2008
Battle of Chaplin Creek	June 27-28,2009
Encampment of the French & Indian War	June 27-28, 2009
Gettysburg Anniversary Reenactment	July 3-5, 2009
Siege of Fort Niagara	July 3-5, 2009
Capture of Gladeville	July 10 -12, 2009
Battle of Huck’s Defeat	July 11, 2009
Battle of Corydon	July 11-12, 2009
Battle of Rich Mountain	July 11–12, 2009
Gilmore’s Raid	July 11-12, 2009
War of 1812 in Wisconsin	July 11–12, 2009
Rocky Mountain National Rendezvous	July 11-19, 2009
Battle of Laurel Hill	July 17-19,2009
Battle of Richmond	July 29-30, 2009
Battle of the House in the Horseshoe	August 1-2, 2009
Battle of Pierce Creek	August 7-9,2009
1877 Battle of the Big Hole	August 8,2009
Battle of Saltville	August 15-16,2009
French and Indian War Muster	August 29-30,2009

Old Bedford Village

Many historic villages, battlefields, fort and battlefields are endangered of closing there doors for a season and some forever.  Each month there is a historic site being added to the list of endangered historic landmarks in the U.S.A and around the world.  The newest site put onto the list is the Old Bedford Village located in Bedford, PA.

Old Bedford Village has been one of the most enjoyable sites for reenactors who portray many periods to hold their encampments  and events to  relive history.  Sadly it too is having hard times but especially since a new tax has been created for the state of Pennsylvania where historic landmarks who used to not have to pay the tax are now required to pay it.  To read more about what is happening to Old Bedford and how you can save it click “New Property Tax”  or “Help Save Old Bedford“

Cancelled Event

I don’t know if anyone else has been noticing especially this year that many well known events are being canceled left and right.  There are many reasons  why many of these events are being canceled some include the current economy, taxes and sometimes due to weather.    This entry will continue to be investigated as information is found. If you know of any events that have been canceled please let me know, because it seems that I’m always the last one to find out.

Current Cancelled Events:

> Wilderness/Spotsylvania Reenactment May 1 – 3,  2009
> Red Coats Are Coming has been postponed- May 16 & 17, 2009 (due to mud)

May: Living History

The following are just a few living history events that are happening this month.  

 

Bledsoe’s Fort Colonial Fair	Gallatin, TN
Attack on Havre de Grace Reenactment	Susquehanna Museum, MD
Civil War Living History Reenactment	Westminster, MD
French Alliance Celebration: LH	Valley Forge, PA
Jamestown Day	Jamestown, VA
Army Heritage Day	Carlisle, PA
Cherry Hill Farm House: Civil War Day	Falls Church, VA
Jamestown Day	Jamestown, VA
Medieval Day	Havre de Grace, MD
Claude Moore Colonial  Market Fair	McLean, VA
Colonial Craftsman’s Faire	Newport News, VA
British Revolutionary War Weekend	Big Pool, MD
The Red Coats are coming	Kingsville, MD
French and Indian War Encampment	Rome, NY
Yorktown Civil War Weekend	Yorktown,VA
Burning of Fort du Portage	Youngstown, NY
British & French Encampment,	Fort Necessity, PA
Siege at the Blockhouse	Duffield, VA

For additional information please click here…

 

Living History vs Reenacting

When deciding which event to go some people find it confusing whether to go to a living history event or reenactment.  Battle reenactments have a different atmosphere than most living history event.  My advice is to go to one living history event and one reenactment and decide which event you liked best.   Below are the technical definitions and differences between the two.

Living History: is an activity that incorporates historical tools, activities and dress into an interactive presentation that seeks to give observers and participants a sense of stepping back in time. Although it does not necessarily seek to reenact a specific event in history, living history is similar to, and sometimes incorporates, historical reenactment. Living history is an educational medium used by museums, historic sites, heritage interpreters, schools and historical reenactment groups to educate the public in particular areas of history, such as clothing styles, pastimes and handicrafts, or to simply convey a sense of the everyday life of a certain period in history.

• Best living events are organized by historic landmarks such as battlefields, homes and forts.  
• If you live around a historical society or landmark the chance that they are planning a living history event are greater than if you live out of no where.  
• The cost to go to one of these events is the usual entrance fee to tour around the house, park, fort or battlefield.

Reenactment: performing a role in an event that occurred at an earlier or past time. is a type of role-play in which participants attempt to recreate some aspects of a historical event or period. It may be a narrowly-defined time period, such as a specific war or other event, or it may be more broadly defined. is an educational medium used by historical reenactment groups, battlefields and private historic societies to educate the public about a specific war or time in history.   (Wikipedia and dictionary.com)

Tactical battles: are generally not open to the public. Tactical battles are fought like real battles with both sides coming up with strategies and tactics to beat their opponents. With no script, a basic set of agreed-upon rules (physical boundaries, time limit, victory conditions, etc.), and on-site judges, tactical battles can be considered a form of Live action role-playing game. (Wikipedia and dictionary.com)

• Battlefields & forts have the most land and they are the safest places to host this kind of event.  
• Some battlefields will not host an event on the property but private landowners will allow the use of their property if an organizer would like to wish to organize such an event.
• When viewing our events page on our website anytime you read “Battle of  or Seige of” chances are that is a reenactment and not a living history event.
• If you go to several of these types of events it get costly really quick.  The usual entrance fee varies from $10 and up.
• To view full list of events please visit www.wereenact.net/events.html